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Clothes dryers - what to ask before you buy

Before you buy a clothes dryer, check out some of the questions you should ask to make sure you're making a good choice.

Click on a question below for more information.

Need: Do I need a clothes dryer?
Cost: How much will the clothes dryer cost to buy?
Running cost: How much will the clothes dryer cost to run?
Size: What capacity clothes dryer do I need?
Placement: Where will I put the clothes dryer?
Venting: Where will the exhaust air from the clothes dryer go?
Noise: How noisy is the clothes dryer?
Speed: How long will it take to dry a load of clothes?
Available programs: Will the clothes dryer suit my needs?
Filter: How accessible is the filter in the clothes dryer?
Drum: Is the clothes dryer drum stainless steel or enamel?
Warranty: How long is the clothes dryer warranty?
Combined washer/drier: What about a combined washer/dryer?
Types: What types of clothes dryers are there?

1. Do I need a clothes dryer?

Ask yourself if you need a clothes dryer.

If you live in an apartment without access to an outdoor drying area, you could use a clothes-horse to dry your clothes near a sunny window, or on a verandah. However, the strata plan may specify that this is not allowed, so check that first.

That said, even if you only use a clothes dryer rarely, it is a very useful appliance on those occasions - for example, your favourite jeans are still damp and you want to wear them now!

Remember that you must not put soaking wet clothes into a clothes dryer. The clothing should have as much water as possible removed from them before placing in the dryer. Wet clothing (for example, hand washed items) should be spun in the washing machine before putting in the dryer.

NOTE: You can only dry things in the dryer that have been washed in water. If you have cleaned the clothing using anything other than water (e.g. inflammable liquids) do NOT put them in the dryer!

2. How much will the clothes dryer cost to buy?

You'll pay more for fully automatic versions (i.e. clothes dryers that can sense the dampness of the load and won't over dry your clothes), and for combined washer/dryer machines.

When buying a cheaper clothes dryer, check out its star rating - some of the cheaper ones have a lower star rating. If you have to use the clothes dryer regularly, it may be cheaper in the long run to buy a more expensive, more efficient machine.

3. How much will the clothes dryer cost to run?

Check the star rating. A clothes dryer is generally one of the least energy efficient appliances you can buy.
Buy a clothes dryer of a size that suits your needs.
If you dry your clothes in the sun as much as you can (even if you have to use the dryer to finish off the drying process), you'll save money. Wherever possible, wash on sunny days.
Venting the dryer to the outside will help reduce the running cost as the moist air is taken away and not recycled by the clothes dryer.
Don't dry the clothing for longer than needed as this wastes power, causes wear on your clothing, can cause wrinkling and could be a fire hazard. Automated sensors can be found in some of the more expensive clothes dryers, and these turn the dryer off when the clothing is dry.

4. What capacity clothes dryer do I need?

Determine how much you will use your clothes dryer.

If it's too big, you'll be wasting energy. If it's too small, you'll need to run it more often. An average size is around 6kg but of course they are available in smaller and larger models.

5. Where will I put the clothes dryer?

When deciding where the clothes dryer will go, consider:

the space available - will the machine you want fit in the space?
proximity to the outside - can you vent the exhaust air out through a window, door or purpose made vent?
if it is to stack on top of your washing machine, your washing machine must be a front loader! :-)
if it is to hang on the wall, will your wall support the weight?

6. Where will the exhaust air from the clothes dryer go?

The clothes dryer will emit a lot of hot, moist air and it has to go somewhere. You will need to determine where to vent this air. Inadequate venting can result in:

lint buildup around the house
mould growing around the house

You may have to purchase a special venting / ducting kit to vent the clothes dryer. Make sure it is the right size, and that you can duct the air to the outside

7. How noisy is the clothes dryer?

Depending on where the clothes dryer is located, you may find that the noise it makes is an issue.

The noise comes not just from the motor, but from an exhaust fan as well.
Some clothes dryers have a sound dampener built into them to reduce the noise.
The noise may reverberate more on a timber floor than on a concrete slab.

If noise is an issue for you, see if you can listen to the sound of the clothes dryer when it is running, before you buy it.

8. How long will it take to dry a load of clothes?

The time taken to dry a load of clothes will depend on the weight of the damp clothes, the type of fabrics involved, how damp they are, and the size and efficiency of your clothes dryer.

9. Will the clothes dryer suit my needs?

If you don't want your clothes to crease as much, make sure the dryer has a cool down period.
If you don't like complicated electronics, a very basic mechanical control may suit you.
Make sure the size is right for your needs.
Do you want a range of automated functions (e.g. auto sensing when the clothes are dry) or are you happy to monitor this yourself?
Can you access the filter easily for regular cleaning? This is important if the clothes dryer is to be placed up high.

10. How accessible is the lint filter in the clothes dryer?

The lint filter can be found at the front or back of the clothes dryer. Check that it is easy for you to remove as it should be cleaned after every use, and washed a couple of times a year.

11. Is the clothes dryer drum stainless steel or enamel?

If you will use your clothes dryer a lot, stainless steel is a great finish for the drum.

If you are only using it occasionally, an enamel drum is fine. Enamel can sometimes chip when tumble drying clothes with metal zips and/or heavy buttons (e.g. on jeans) but these chips are generally only cosmetic and usually won't affect the function of the machine.

12. How long is the clothes dryer warranty?

You should get at least 12 months warranty, however you may get more.

Think carefully before paying for an extended warranty, as any problems with the machine are most likely to arise when you first start to use it.

13. What is a combined washer/dryer?

Combined washer/dryers can wash and dry clothes in the one machine which is generally the size of a wash-only machine. They usually have no requirement for venting.

These machines don't wash and dry as effectively (or as efficiently) as having two separate machines, but if space is an issue, the combined washer/dryer may be the answer.

14. What types of domestic clothes dryers are there?

You'll need to find out which type of clothes dryer suits you best:

Electric - these are the ones you just plug into an electrical outlet. These are the most common type of domestic tumble dryer.

Gas - these are more expensive to buy but cheaper to run and generally dry your clothes faster.

Heat pump - these are more expensive to buy but don't require venting. Instead, a condenser takes the moisture out of the warm, damp air from the dryer then returns the dry air back to the machine, while the moisture is directed into a reservoir or a drain. The heat pump clothes dryers are typically much faster to dry the clothes than other dryers, however high humidity may increase this time as the moisture will take longer to evaporate in humid conditions.